Thursday, December 28, 2017

St. Louis police are searching for a Nissan Altima, like this one, possibly involved in a hit-and-run.

A Spanish Lake man who was previously thought to have been shot to death was likely killed by a hit-and-run driver, an autopsy has revealed.

Aaron Simpson, 25, was discovered on December 20 lying in the street by St. Louis County police officers responding to reports of gunfire. He had what looked like multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body and was transported by paramedics to a hospital, where he died hours later, police say.

Both police and medical professionals originally thought Simpson had been shot, but an autopsy now shows that wasn't the case.

Detectives are still working to "separate fact from fiction," but they now suspect Simpson may have been the victim of a fatal crash, Officer Benjamin Granda says. They're searching for a 2011 Nissan Altima. It's a white, four-door sedan with the Missouri license plate HH2-Z1t. Police say it's missing the front plate and probably has some front-end damage.

Simpson was found in the 1100 block of Reale Avenue, west of Larimore Park.

Police are circulating photos of a similar car as an example. The investigation is still "very active," and police ask anyone with information to call them at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.

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